WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Ohio State defense served as a giant wet blanket last night,
smothering a fiery Purdue offense and quieting a black-clad crowd that came to party.

The Buckeyes' 23-7 victory, combined with a loss by second-ranked Southern California, should
boost No. 4 Ohio State at least to third in the national polls today. Ohio State tied a school
record with its 17th straight Big Ten victory.

The expected showdown between the Big Ten's top-ranked offense and defense never materialized,
mainly because the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0) didn't allow it.

They didn't allow much; that's the point.

The No. 23 Boilermakers (5-1, 1-1) came in averaging nearly 500 yards and more than 45
points.

But the Buckeyes limited the Boilermakers to 272 yards and nearly handed them a shutout. Purdue
scored on a 1-yard pass with 10 seconds left in the game.

"I didn't think that their offense had seen a defense like ours yet," Ohio State coach Jim
Tressel said. "I think the way our defense hit them, that planted some seeds of doubt. They haven't
been hit like that. I think they got taken aback a little."

The Boilermakers had not been shut out in a quarter this season, let alone three straight.
Purdue did not get past the Ohio State 40-yard line until just 1:16 remained.

Quarterback Curtis Painter came in with 18 touchdown passes. He had none. Painter had been
sacked four times all season. The Buckeyes recorded three and hurried many other throws with
pressure.

Receiver Dorien Bryant came in with 40 catches. He had two last night for minus-4 yards. And
tailback Kory Sheets (515 rushing yards coming in) was a nonfactor with 20 yards.

"We tried to come after them and establish the tempo," linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "We
tried to come out with an attacking mentality, and it worked."

Offensive tackle Kirk Barton said, "Our defense is the best in the country, bar none."

Ohio State's defense was good enough to overcome several offensive mistakes.

Quarterback Todd Boeckman threw for 200 yards and had two first-half touchdowns, but he threw
three second-half interceptions.

Buckeyes tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells rushed for 85 yards on 18 carries before limping off in
the third quarter. He has been hampered by a touchy left ankle all season, and after this twinge,
he looked more gimpy than before, needing assistance off the field.

"He told me he was fine after the game," Barton said.

Purdue trailed 17-0 at halftime, and Ohio State's first two turnovers gave the Boilermakers
life. But the Buckeyes quickly squeezed it out of them.

After the first pick, Purdue moved to the Ohio State 41. But on second-and-6, a dump pass to
Bryant was sniffed out, and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and Laurinaitis nailed him for a 4-yard
loss.

On the next play, Anderson Russell sacked Painter, and the Boilermakers punted.

Boeckman's second interception occurred at the Purdue 2, almost like a coffin-corner punt. The
Buckeyes defense smelled opportunity.

On third-and-5 from the 7, Dexter Larimore bore down on Painter in the end zone, forcing a bad
throw and another punt.

By the time Boeckman threw his third interception early in the fourth quarter (matching his
season total), Ohio State had tacked on two field goals and was comfortably ahead 23-0.

Meanwhile, the Ohio State offense started out looking like a vicious dog straining at its
leash.

The Buckeyes were impatient to score on their first drive, trying three long passes to three
receivers out of 10 play calls. The first resulted in a defensive passinterference penalty that
converted a second-and-17. The third went to Ray Small for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

After a Purdue three-and-out and a poor punt, OSU took just five plays to score again. This
time, the Buckeyes spread Purdue out with five receivers, and Boeckman found Brian Hartline covered
by a linebacker inside from 6 yards for a 14-0 lead.

It was the 14th consecutive loss for Purdue against ranked opponents, dating to a 2003 victory
over Iowa.